Life goes on at Wash. Square as residents aren’t
scared away by reports of drugs and homelessness
Washington Square Park on June 1.
BY DEAN MOSES
What is really going on
at Washington Square
Park?
The reputation of the Village’s
iconic park has been dragged
through the mud as of late — with
other tabloids tossing out terms
such as “drug den” and “violent
hub” to describe the historic
greenspace amid reports that the
popular relaxation spot has been
seized by unhoused narcotic
peddlers.
For years, the famous Washington
Square Arch and widespanning
fountain has been a
celebrated hangout spot for teens
and young adults who partake in
marijuana smoking long before it
was legal. However, some have
pointed to a recent, unabated
rise in drug use and distribution
amid the usual crowds of skateboarders,
busking musicians, and
families picnicking.
The reports got the attention
of Police Commissioner Dermot
Shea, who on Tuesday told NY1
that the NYPD would beef up its
presence in and around Washington
Square Park. The park
will also be ordered closed at 10
p.m. nightly.
By the picture painted, New
Yorkers would believe they are
entering a homeless encampment
piled with used needles and
strewn drug paraphernalia.
PHOTOS BY DEAN MOSES
Yet, when we arrived at the
greenspace on June 1, joggers
could be observed exercising,
children climbed the installed
jungle gyms, and dog lovers enjoyed
the sun with their pets.
Nevertheless, toward the
western side of the park, quality
of life issues related to drug use
and homelessness were far more
visible.
Claiming a row of benches, a
small group of what appeared to
be homeless individuals were seen
smoking substances and exchanging
money for what appeared to
be illegal drugs.
Still feeling safe
Even so, parkgoers went on
with their activities without batting
an eyelid.
Three friends, Xander Morgenstern,
Eliana Cohen and
Aliya Markowitz laughed and
chatted with each other on a
Washington Square Park bench,
while behind them a man with
his pants around his ankles slept
peacefully. Like most visitors to
the park, they simply went about
their business, some even choosing
to eat their lunch next to the
individual.
“I feel safe here but that’s just
because everywhere in New York
is like that,” Morgenstern said,
describing the slew of passed out
drunks and drug addicts.
He recalls a few days ago seeing
two drunken individuals fi ghting
just a few blocks away from
Washington Square Park, and one
striking the other person with a
wine bottle.
Markowitz concurred with
Morgenstern, stating that this is
a citywide issue — not one limited
to Washington Square Park.
“I don’t feel that people using
drugs or homelessness or people
with mental illness is what makes
me feel unsafe in this space.
That’s not what makes me feel
uncomfortable here,” Markowitz
said. “I think if you look around
Washington Square Park you can
see everyone is having a good
time, and wherever you go there is
going to be people who are choosing
to use drugs and I don’t think
that necessarily makes the entire
space unsafe for people. I think
that for the most part, people
keep to themselves.”
Cohen empathized with
unhoused individuals who are
being demonized in the press,
Smoking on the western side of the park.
believing the homelessness issue
demonstrates the need for more
assistance.
“I think Washington Square
Park is beautiful, I didn’t get a
druggie vibe when I walked in
here,” Eliana Cohen said.
Veta, a mother, sat and watched
her children play mere feet away
from where some were allegedly
engaging in illegal activity, to her
it is a result of both city life and a
post pandemic world.
“I feel safe, I let my kids play
here. It’s a big city, and a community
here and they are people
struggling and the pandemic has
really brought it out. There are
crazy people around, I’m not
gonna lie, but it’s New York City.
It is the way it is. You gotta try to
be street smart,” Veta said, sharing
that she frequents the park
during the day and cannot speak
for the nighttime crowd.
Wiley reacts
Political candidates have often
chosen this spot, a focal point for
protest movements, as the ideal
background for their platforms.
The latest mayoral candidate
to use Washington Square Park
to host a press conference was
Maya Wiley, where she addressed
her policies on homelessness and
combating it with affordable
housing, mental health services,
and more.
When asked about Washington
Square Park being labeled a drug
den, she reiterated her stance on
utilizing city resources over police
offi cers to provide outreach
services.
“Imagine you can walk into
the subway or walk into a park
and before you go there, there are
mental health outreach workers.
This outreach exists in the city.
You can go to Staten Island and
talk to Project Hospitality, and it
does just this. We know how to
do it, we just have to align our
resources on doing it,” Wiley said.
A jogger enjoys a run in the sun.
4 June 3, 2021 Schneps Media